Script-of-the-Week: Ellen. Saint Ellen

by Richard Day (47 pages)

Points of Interest:

• Pacing: Quick. Gets in late and out early.

• Screen Visibility: Minimal since it’s a sit-com.

• Formatting: Long. Spacing is quite generous.

Recommendation: For writers who want to improve their comedy writing. A couple of solid belly laughs here. Especially one regarding the “Save Billy” jar.

Script-of-the-Week: Ellen - Felonious Culottes Episode 9206

by Michael J. Prescott (56 pages)

Points of Interest:

• Pacing: Pacing is quick and to the point. Jokes are set up quickly.

• Screen Visibility: Minimal since it’s a sitcom.

• Formatting: Long. 30 minute episode is 56 pages

Recommendation: For writers who want to hone their comedic writing skills. Some jokes are rather plain on the page but come alive with delivery.

Script-of-the-Week: Taxi: Jim the Psychic Episode 60273-065

by Barry Kemp (37 pages)

Points of Interest:

• Pacing: Quick. Set ups and punchlines are efficient.

• Screen Visibility: Quite minimal since this is a sitcom.

• Formatting: Long formatting at 37 pages. Clearly not a page a minute.

Recommendation: For writers who want to read deceptively simple comedy writing. Andy Kaufman’s schtick in the episode is reminiscent of his own live show where he plays/mimics a record of the Mighty Mouse theme music. Very clever.

Script-of-the-Week: Taxi: Come As You Aren’t

by Glen Charles and Les Charles (55 pages -Long-)

Points of Interest:

• Pacing: Quick. Jokes are set up well with good payoffs later in the script.

• Screen Visibility: As a sitcom, standard.

• Formatting: Long formatting. Generous spacing pushes the script past the one minute per page rule.

Recommendation: For writers who want to become familiar with well established sitcom writers, as they were becoming well established. Later created Cheers and wrote for Frasier.